Internships
October 16, 2024 2025-06-09 14:20Internships
Internships
The NESA Center’s internship program is an opportunity for highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students to gain professional skills and subject matter development on foreign policy and national security issues associated with the Near East and South Asia region.
Interned Students
Universities
Different Majors
**The NESA Center is currently accepting applications for Fall ’25 internships. The deadline to apply for Fall '25 internships is Friday August 15 2025. The Fall '25 Internship Term will begin after Labor Day.**
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and writing sample (1-3 pages) to Mr. Sam Marrero at Samuel.Marrero@ndu.edu. The NESA Center reviews internship applications on a rolling basis, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply early. NESA internships are full-time and unpaid.
Note: To be considered, applicants must reside in the Washington DC area for the duration of the term for which they’re applying. Geographically remote internships will not be considered.
NESA Center Interns – May 2025
Benjamin Green
Benjamin is a first-year student at the Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He is interested in pursuing a career in international affairs and is particularly interested in analyzing civil-military relationships in developing countries. Benjamin completed an internship with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in the Spring of 2024. While at NESA, Benjamin is excited to assist with research and learn firsthand about U.S. foreign policy, security partnerships, and critical security issues in the region.
Colin Fitzsimmons
Colin is an undergraduate at George Washington University, pursuing a degree in International Affairs with concentrations in Africa and Global Public Health and is an Army ROTC Cadet Squad Leader. Colin is interested in the relationship between food, water, and healthcare access with state stability and extremism. He is especially excited to join NESA’s team and learn more about the role of economic development, agriculture, and medical aid in North African and Indian societies. In the past, Colin has worked in the US House of Representatives and studied Arabic in Muscat, Oman through the Project Global Officer program.
Ellie Trumpfheller
Ellie is an undergraduate at the University of Georgia pursuing degrees in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in History. She focuses on how great power competition, regional politics, and historical contexts shape modern conflict. Ellie recently completed a UGA fellowship in security policy and research while co-authoring a paper on the evolution of the Abraham Accords, inspiring her to study modern Middle Eastern history for a term at the University of Oxford, where she joined the John Porter Centre for Diplomacy doing policy research on cognitive warfare threats. Ellie has gained practical experience through internships with the House of Representatives, the Board of Elections in Athens, Georgia.
Fiona Hood
Fiona is an undergraduate at Dartmouth College pursuing a B.A. in Government and Middle Eastern Studies. Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of foreign policy, regional security, and diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa. Fiona has interned in the U.S. House of Representatives and with a Jordanian bank. She is currently a War and Peace Fellow at Dartmouth, where she explores issues such as human rights, terrorism, and defense policy. With experience in Arabic language study and policy research, she is eager to contribute to NESA’s work, supporting faculty members and deepening her expertise in the MENA region.
Jasmine Rehman
Jasmine is a Masters student in Georgetown University’s Masters of Science in Foreign Service program. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and a B.S. in Business Analytics and Information Systems from the University of South Florida. Jasmine is passionate about advancing the fields of conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and holistic approaches to preventing/countering violent extremism, particularly in the Near East South Asia region. She is excited to support the NESA center’s vital work in regional education, engagement, and outreach and contribute to conflict resolution through initiatives in security cooperation, civil-military relations and Track II diplomacy.
Lucas Daley
Lucas is a senior at Oberlin College pursuing degrees in Political Science, Economics, and Russian with a concentration in International Affairs. He is particularly interested in South and Central Asian geopolitics, the influence of external actors, and insurgency dynamics. Lucas has interned with the U.S. Department of State and with think tanks in New Delhi, India, and Tbilisi, Georgia, and studied Russian in Kazakhstan.
Peer Khan
Peer is an undergraduate at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, studying Science, Technology, and International Affairs with minors in South Asian and Diplomatic Studies. He is passionate about democracy, civil-military relations, and digital freedoms across the NESA region, with a special interest in both India and Pakistan. Peer is excited to join NESA to learn from leading scholars and practitioners, deepen his understanding of regional security and diplomacy, and contribute to programs that advance peace, cooperation, and democratic resilience across the region.
NESA Center interns use academic research, writing, and communications skills in support of faculty research and programs. Interns receive access to the National Defense University library and research resources to support research work. Interns participate in conferences, workshops, and other programs at the National Defense University featuring academics, subject matter experts, military officers, and diplomats. Interns also receive development opportunities throughout the Washington, D.C. area, accompanying faculty and participants on site visits to places like Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and the State Department.
Interns are encouraged to pursue publication opportunities under the guidance of, or in partnership with, NESA Center faculty.
The NESA Center internship is unpaid. The NESA Center does not provide or assist interns in finding housing accommodations. The NESA Center does not sponsor travel or work visas for non-U.S. citizens.
We invite applicants seeking housing accommodation and/or travel visa sponsorship to apply through the following intern hosting organizations:
Washington Internships Institute
PRIMARY DUTIES:
- Assist NESA Center faculty and staff with long- and short-term research projects related to the NESA region.
- Support NESA Center programs: note-taking, course material preparation and logistical support.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- A demonstrated interest in International Affairs, Defense, Security Studies, and the NESA Region.
- Detail oriented, highly organized, and able to work independently or in teams.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Foreign Language skills a plus: particularly Arabic, French, Russian, Farsi, Urdu, Pashto, Dari.
- Interested applicants must be enrolled in a degree-granting university program (undergraduate or graduate).
